title: Synthesis of CuO and Cu3N Nanoparticles in and on Hollow Silica Spheres.
abstract: Copper oxide nanoparticles within hollow mesoporous silica spheres were prepared by binding/adsorbing Cu2+or [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2]2+ions on the surface of carbon spheres, followed by formation of a mesoporous silica shell by sol-gel processing and calcination in air. The CuO nanoparticles can subsequently be converted into Cu3N nanoparticles by nitridation with ammonia. The effect of the different copper precursors, i.e. Cu2+and [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2]2+, on the nanocomposites was studied. CuO nanoparticles on the outer surface of hollow silica spheres were obtained by thermal treatment of hollow CuSiO3spheres in air. Nitridation of the CuSiO3spheres with ammonia resulted in Cu3N@SiO2composites, with aggregated Cu3N nanoparticles on hollow silica spheres.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology 1060 Vienna, Austria E-mail: Ulrich.Schubert@tuwien.ac.at Homepage: http://www.imc.tuwien.ac.at/
authors.forename: Rupali
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deshmukh
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schubert
keywords: Copper; Hollow spheres; Mesoporous materials; Nanoparticles; Nitridation reactions; Nitrides